Writing Propaganda You Should Stop Believing
Ten Lies Writers Believe When Publishing Feels Impossible
There’s a particular kind of heartbreak that only writers know. It’s the ache of having something real to say—something true, messy, funny, vulnerable—and watching it get ignored, rejected, ghosted, or algorithmically buried. In the void left open by that heartbreak, a lot of lies creep in. Lies that feel true. Lies that sound like logic. Lies that wear the voice of your own self-doubt like a mask.
Let’s drag those li’l bastards into the light, shall we?
❌ Lie #1: “If I were any good, this would be easier.”
Truth: Being talented doesn’t exempt you from difficulty—it just means your work is worth struggling for. It feels difficult because you care so damn much. The publishing gods do not hand out Easy Mode to the gifted. Look at the careers of your favorite authors. Look harder. You’ll see dead ends, pivots, shelving, silence, breakdowns, rebuilds. Not because they weren’t good—because this is the job. What you don’t see is the “wasted” hours they spent crying and worrying they’d never write another good thing again. The neuroses. The tossing and turning at night. Even those that share their real stories on socials don’t share the half of it.
❌ Lie #2: “I missed my shot.”
Truth: There’s no one shot. There are a hundred doors, and you only need one to open. Some glorious TikTok darlings debut at twenty-two. Some at sixty-two. Some “make it” (whatever “it” is, because we all know you’ll just move the goalposts once you nail a goal) after five books, some after fifteen. If your timeline doesn’t match someone else’s, that doesn’t mean you’re late. It means you’re still on your way. As long as your mind and energy hold up, writing is one of those creative pursuits that you can do until you literally keel over at your keyboard. By worrying about the time that has already passed, you’re missing out on all the writing to come.
❌ Lie #3: “No one wants stories like mine.”
Truth: If no one wants stories like yours, it’s because they haven’t seen them done like you’ll do them. Gatekeepers don’t always know what’s next. Their wish lists are full of “I’ll know it when I see it” because they don’t have a crystal ball, either. (And if they did, they’d be day trading from a private island, not struggling to pay rent in publishing.) But readers are hungry for new lenses, new truths, new ways in. The question isn’t if your story matters. It’s how deeply you’re willing to tell it. And one day, someone will see it, and they’ll know it.
❌ Lie #4: “Someone else already wrote this.”
Truth: No one else wrote it like you. We don’t just read for plot—we read for voice. For perspective. For emotional resonance. Every single story has already been told. Tell yours anyway. It’s not the story, it’s the writer that makes it art.
❌ Lie #5: “I can’t write right now—I’m too broken.”
Truth: You are not broken. You are human. And the pain isn’t a disqualification—it’s a portal. There are seasons when writing dries up. That’s okay. But don’t confuse exhaustion with inability. Don’t confuse survival mode with failure. The words will wait for you. They always do. And it’s okay to take it easy on yourself—and let’s say that louder for the people in the back. You know what kills creativity? It’s not suffering. It’s not burnout. It’s pressure.
❌ Lie #6: “Success means traditional publishing. Period.”
Truth: Success is whatever path gets your work to the people who need it. Trad is valid. Indie is valid. Hybrid is valid. The goal isn’t a single stamp of approval. It’s impact. Reach. Resonance. Legacy. If someone cries in a Target parking lot because of your book or AO3 fanfic or Kindle Unlimited borrow, that’s it. You’ve won.
❌ Lie #7: “If this book doesn’t sell, I’ve wasted my time.”
Truth: No writing time is wasted. Ever. Every draft is a stepping stone. Every “failed” book is a training ground. Sometimes the book isn’t meant to sell. Sometimes it’s meant to teach you how to write the one that will.
❌ Lie #8: “Other writers aren’t struggling like this.”
Truth: They are. Even the ones getting book deals. Even the ones on tour. (Especially the ones on tour. Have you ever had to eat airport food for seven straight days? Had to pick up a mic in front of 300 people when all you want to do is binge The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives? The grass is always greener. Trust.) Even the ones with six-figure advances. Everyone is haunted by imposter syndrome, by self-doubt, by the terror of the blank page. No one escapes it. So let go of the expectation that you’ll have to somehow figure out—alone—the problem no creative person in the history of the written word has solved.
❌ Lie #9: “I have to wait until I feel confident.”
Truth: Confidence is a lagging indicator. You get it after you act. Write scared. Submit shaky. Query while cringing. Confidence comes from doing the thing, not waiting for the fear to leave the room. (Spoiler: It never does. You just have to make it a coffee and get to know it, because fear can also show us where we need to go.)
❌ Lie #10: “I should quit.”
Truth: You can absolutely quit. NOBODY IS FORCING YOU TO WRITE. If the idea of stopping gives you a visceral wash of relief, then you might be pushing too far or too hard. But if you’re here, reading this? You don’t actually want to. You just want it to stop hurting. And I get it. But here’s the thing: those published writers you’re watching with envy, they didn’t quit writing. You can take a break. You can throw a little (or big) tantrum. You can bedrot and doomscroll and cry. And then you come back. You always come back. Because if you quit, I can guarantee it’ll never happen.
One Last Thing
Publishing isn’t fair. It’s not a meritocracy. But writing—writing is yours. It’s your voice, your power, your way of refusing to disappear.
So believe the thing that’s hard to believe:
You’re already doing it. You’re already becoming the writer you’re supposed to be.
Now go write the next thing. You’ve got stories to tell.
Even if it's quiet.
Even if it's hard.
Especially then.
Get the poster: “Writers don’t need toxic positivity—they need fire.”
This striking high-resolution poster features a raised middle finger with crossed quill pens ablaze behind it—perfect for writers who are tired of rejection but still writing anyway. With bold black outlines, bright colors, and just the right amount of “don’t tell me to journal about it,” this 16 x 20 poster is both a battle cry and a mood.
Whether you’re a novelist, screenwriter, poet, or publishing industry survivor, this poster reminds you: If you quit, it definitely won’t happen.
About Good Story Company: If you have a story in your head, we’re here to help you get it out into the world. We help writers of all skill sets, all genres, and all categories, at all stages of the writing process. Need a hand with brainstorming? Want to find a critique partner? Looking for an editor to help polish up your pitch, your idea, or your entire manuscript? We have all of it and more in our community. If you’re ready to take the next step (or the first step) on your writing journey, we’re here to help you.
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About Mary Kole: Former literary agent Mary Kole founded Good Story Company as an educational, editorial, and community resource for writers. She provides consulting and developmental editing services to writers of all categories and genres, working on children’s book projects from picture book to young adult, and all kinds of trade market literature, including fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and memoir. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and has worked at Chronicle Books, the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, and Movable Type Management. She has been blogging at Kidlit.com since 2009. Her book, Writing Irresistible Kidlit, a writing reference guide for middle grade and young adult writers, is available from Writer's Digest Books.
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